Thailand Chinese New Year 2012

Chinese New Year is a lively celebration in Thailand, with dragon dances, fireworks, and banquets prepared on the streets for the benefit of ancestral spirits particularly in Samphanthawong District, the largest China Town in Thailand. Well–known for its streets of goldsmiths and numerous restaurants serving tasty Chinese cuisine, Bangkok’s Chinatown “Yaowarat” is filled with people who still preserve a distinctly Chinese way of life, including both tradition and culture. That’s why the Chinese New Year celebration in this area is a major festival and is well organized every year.

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In China Town and elsewhere throughout the kingdom, lion and dragon dances are performed to ward off evil spirits, martial arts demonstrations are staged at various venues, Chinese street operas are staged along major thoroughfares and finally, fireworks are lit to mark the end of the new years celebration.

Festivities begin on the 21st of December and culminate in the countdown on New Year’s Eve extending through New Year’s Day.

Photo from Fickr: The location is Cho Phraya River, Bangkok, Thailand.

Thailand celebrates the Western New Year as well. On 31st December, there are the Bangkok countdown celebrations at several major sites: Central World Plaza, Rama VIII Bridge, and the National Stadium. Buddhist merit-making in the morning and evening folk entertainment take place on 1st January.

CentralWorld, The largest lifestyle shopping destination in Bangkok, invites everyone to join “Bangkok Countdown 2011 at CentralWorld” (Ratchaprasong Square) celebrating the festive moment (New Year Celebration) in the heart of Bangkok this New Year’s Eve.

Kanchanaburi province, in collaboration with Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Metropolitan Bank, the State Railway of Thailand, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the River Kwai Bridge Festival and the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Enjoy learning the historical records through the new perspective and format of presentation that focuses on happiness, joy and impressive splendors, while also immensely honoring those who lost their lives and the families they left behind during WWII. The history illustration, combined with the stunning shows of contemporary arts of different forms, will be impressively presented under “The War is over…This is a time to Celebrate” theme. What will be featured in the festival includes:

The Light & Sound Show
Based on the avoidable tragedy that happened to mankind 65 years ago, the presentation concept is thoughtfully developed under “The War is over…This is a time to Celebrate” theme and it will be spectacularly illustrated through multi-media presentations. The first of its kind in Thailand, this show will be splendidly accompanied by the music orchestra performance in the middle of the mighty River Kwai.

Those who are interested in this show can book tickets (priced at 200, 300 and 500 THB) at:
1) Kanchanaburi Provincial Office: Tel.034-512-399
2) Kanchanaburi Tourism Promotion Society: Tel. 034-518-656
3) R.S.P. Jumbo Travel Centre: Tel. 081-5868228, 034-514906

“Street Show” Space
The setting and decorations of the surrounding area in vicinity of the Bridge are designed to be perfectly in line with the event theme. This space, for exhibits and displays, will ensure ultimate joys and inspirations you can get from the stunning performances such as Pantomime show by talented Babymine, impressive beat box by Police Lieutenant Koravik Chandaen and other shows from Kanchanaburi province.

“Art for living” Exhibition
The outdoor art exhibition on street features portrait sketching, painting exhibits and performing arts by contemporary Thai artists from all over the country from the 26th November – 5th December 2010.

For more information:
Kanchanaburi provincial Office Tel. 034-512-399, 034-515-208, 034-511-778
Or 081-702-6612 (Khun Som), 084-640-1114 (Khun Taai)

Loy Krathong festival is one of Thailand Festival which occurs on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, a date which usually falls in November.

Loy means to float and a Krathong is a small, hand-made “boat” or “raft” traditionally made from the leaves or bark of a banana tree and decorated with origami-esque banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense sticks. In modern days, Krathongs are often made of specially baked bread, so the Krathongs are biodegradable, although many use styrofoam.

Many Thais believe that celebrating Loy Krathong by offering a krathong to the Water Goddess, Phra Mae Khongkha, will bring them good luck, particularly for couples, who will go to launch Krathongs together: a particularly auspicious event if the couple crafts their own krathong, although it is more common in modern days to simply buy krathongs from vendors near the water.

For This year, Loy Krathong Festivals begins during November 19, 2010 – November 21, 2010

In Bangkok, the Songkran Water Festivals 2011 will be held between Date 11 and 18 April around the Rattanakosin Island district.

The main celebrations, in the capital, focus on bathing rites of replicas of revered Buddha images originating from various provinces in the North, South, East and central regions, interspersed with traditional food and dessert-making demonstrations and cultural performances.

The opening ceremony will take place, 11 April 2011, at Phra Chetupon Wimol Manklaram or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

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There are also important celebrations through the country at various tourist destinations:
• Old City Songkran Festival, Ayutthaya
• Songkran Festival, Chon Buri
• Amazing Songkran, Suphan Buri
• Phra Pradaeng Songkran Festival, Samut Prakarn
• Songkran Festival, Chiang Mai
• Songkran Festival, Sukhothai
• Fantastic Northeast Songkran, Golden Shower Tree and ‘Kan’ Festival and Sticky Rice Road in Khon Kaen
• Grand Northeast Songkran Festival, Nong Khai
• Songkran Nakhon Phnom and Thai-Lao New Year Celebration
• Hat Yai Midnight Songkran, Songkhla
• Grand Songkran Festival and ‘Nang Dan’ Parade, Nakhon Si Thammarat
• Songkran on the Beach

Budget Hotels in Thailand for This Water Festival 2011

The Royal Trophy – Europe vs Asia Golf Championship is a unique, emotionally-charged and passionate competition played between the continents of Europe and Asia in a team match-play format.

The best players from Europe compete against the golfing elite of Asia in a spectacular series of matches for stewardship over the perpetual 16-kilogram Royal Trophy, graciously donated by His Majesty the King of Thailand.

The event is expected to produce record-breaking galleries, hightly competitive golf and great atmosphere all around.

For more information :
Entertainment Group Limited,  Tel : +852 2834 0060
Entertainment and Sports Co., Ltd., Tel : +662 651 9499
Website : www.theroyaltrophy.com

Dairy farming has been associated with the rolling hills of Saraburi since the 50s when pioneering farmers experimented with imported cattle. Today it is an important industry that supplies most of the popular milk products that are sold in supermarkets across the country.

Farms are concentrated mainly northeast of Saraburi town in Muak Lek district all the way to the Pak Chong intersection on Highway 2 heading towards Nakhon Ratchashima.

With the mountains of the famous Khao Yai National Park in the distance, diary meadows nestle between hills on both sides of Highway 2.

Not surprisingly, this undulating country is the home of the National Dairy Cows Festival. All of the celebrations and activities that will interest visitors will take place at the foot of Tapan Hill in Muak Lek district, approximately 39 km northeast of Saraburi, or 145 km from Bangkok.

Festivities begin with a royal visit from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who will graciously open the event which will feature seminars, a fair and concerts.

Visitors are probably most familiar with Chok Chai Farm one of the pioneers of the cowboy culture in Thailand. Today the farm has expanded to offer farm tours with various attractions including a zoo that appeals to families and groups. In the grand tradition of the cowboy the ranch is proud of its rustic timber restaurant serving up tender T-bone steaks.

While individual farms in Saraburi run fine restaurants and adopt a country western themes, come 20 January they unite to host the annual Cowboy Night at the Tapan Hill venue in Muak Lek district.

The event launches with dairy cow contests, but quickly takes on a carnival atmosphere with light hearted rivalry to declare who is sporting the best cowboy or cowgirl costumes.

According to Saraburi province’s tourism office the cowboy festival evolves into an amazing scene as hundreds of “Thai cowboys travel from different parts of the country to enjoy country western  music, an exhibition of dairy and beef cow farming, cow contests, whip-cracking, roping and lariat show, and fancy gun handling. The festival venue even uses haystacks instead of tables and chairs.”

Muak Lek district has three resorts, a health spa and a couple of campsites catering to international visitors. The district is best known for its picturesque landscape, vineyards, river rafting, ATV expeditions, hot air ballooning, mountain bike trails and even a farm where children can learn to ride horses.  Most of the resorts are in Muak Lek district on the rural road 2089 that winds around 300-metre high hills from the intersection on Highway 2.

For more details call TAT Lop buri tel: 036-422-768

Loy Krathong festival is a Thai tradition which has been conducted for a long time ago. Loy Krathong has been held since the middle of the eleventh to the middle of the twelfth lunar month, which is a great flood season- especially on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month. When the moon shines at night, it makes rivers clear. It is very beautiful scenery which is suitable for floating krathong.

In the past, we called “Loy Krathong” as “Chong Pa Rieng”- floating lantern of royal ceremony. It is a Brahman festival to worship Gods- Siva, Vishnu, and Brahma. When Thai people adopted Buddhism, they adapted this ceremony to honor the Buddha’s cremated bone- the original Buddha at the second heaven ruler. They floated lantern to worship the foot-print of the Buddha on Nammathanati River beach in India.

Floating krathong along the river was created by Nang Noppamas; the most favorite concubine’s Sukhothai king. She made krathong as lotus-shaped. The king of Sukhothai floated it along the river. According to Sri Chula Luck’s treatise, Phra Ruang (Sukhothai king) said “From now on, on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, kings of Siam have to make floating lantern- like lotus-shaped- to worship the foot-print of the Buddha on Nammathanati River for ever after.”

In Rattanakosin period, people often made big and beautiful krathong. According to Chao Phraya Dhipharachawong’s historical annals said:-

“In the twelfth lunar month on 14 and 15 waxing moon, I ask for members of the royal family and civil servants making big-sized krathongs- look like banana trunk rafts, they size 8-9 sauk width (an ancient Thai measure of length) and 10-11 sauk tall. They make for contesting each other. For example, some imitate krathong as Mount Meru – shaped and others make krathong as basket decorated with flowers. There are a lot of people to do these so they use a lot of money- about 20 chung (an ancient measure of weight).”

Nowadays, Loy Krathong festival is held in mostly Thai provinces. Particularly in Chiangmai, it has krathong parade, contestation of making krathongs, and Noppamas beauty pageants contest.

The villagers in northern and north-eastern parts of Thailand often float lanterns. They are made of color paper. If they float in the afternoon, they will use smoke for floating lanterns while they use torch to set smoke in lanterns to float them in wind chill at night. We can see the light from lantern in the sky with moonshine and stars’ glitter at night, which is very beautiful.

Interesting stories about Loy Krathong

There are many legends of Loy Krathong:-
1. Loy Krathong is to ask for forgiveness Pra Mae Khongkha.
2. According to Brahma belief, Loy Krathong is to worship God.
3. Loy Krathong is to welcome Buddha when he came back to the world- he had stayed in the Buddhist temple during the rainy season at the second heaven ruler to teach his mother.
4. Loy Krathong is to worship foot-print of Buddha on the Nammathanati River beach.
5. Loy Krathong is to worship Chulamanee in the heaven where the Buddha’s hair is buried.
6. Loy Krathong is to worship Bhakabhrama in heaven.
7. Loy Krathong is to worship Uppakutta-dhera who observed religious precept at the middle portion of the sea.

Loy Krathong’s history in Thailand
Loy Krathong in Thailand originated in Sukhothai period as “Loy Phra Pra Teip” or “Loy Khom” (floating lantern). It is a festival of Thai people. After that, Noppamas- the most favorite concubine’s Sukhothai king – created krathong, like lotus-shaped, for floating in the river. Instead of floating lantern, it used for worshipping the foot-print of Buddha at Nammathanati River beach in Thakkhinabodh district, India. As we called “Nehrabhuddha river.”

Loy Krathong at the present
Nowadays, Thai people still keep form suitably; on the full moon of the twelfth, people usually prepare natural materials to make krathong. For example, they use banana trunk and lotus to make beautiful krathong then stick candle, incense stick, and flowers in krathong. They always ask for good luck in the future and forgiveness Pra Mae Khongkha.

At the temples and tourist places, they held contestation of making krathong and Noppamas beauty pageants contest. There are many entertainment shows at night. Moreover, they set cautiously fireworks. The materials, used for making krathong, could be easily decomposed.

Reasons for Loy Krathong
We can conclude the reasons for Loy Krathong in Thailand that:-
1. To ask for forgiveness Pra Mae Khongkha because we use and drink water. Moreover, we often throw rubbishes and excrete wasted things in the water.
2. To worship the foot-print of the Buddha on Nammathanati River beach in India.
3. To fly away misfortune and bad things like floating sin- Bhrama ceremony.
4. To pay respect to Uppakhud whom mostly northern villagers show their gratitude for. According to legend, he was a monk who had supernatural to kill Mara.
Krathong could be made from anything else such as banana leaves, banana trunks, coconut barks, paper, and etc. Stuck with incense stick and candle to make a wish and float it in the river.

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Loikrathong’s lyrics
November full moon shines,
Loi Krathong, Loi Krathong,
and the water’s high
in the river and local klong,

Loi Loi Krathong,
Loi Loi Krathong,
Loi Krathong is here and everybody’s full of cheer,

We’re together at the klong,
We’re together at the klong,

Each one with this krathong,
As we push away we pray,
We can see a better day.

The Thai-Chinese in Phuket have long passed on the Vegetarian Festival to purify mind and soul by refraining from meat consumption and meditating. Symbolizing the presence of the deities throughout the festival are 9 lanterns lit up and placed aloft on Ko Teng poles. On the 6th day of the festival, there will be religious processions and incredible displays of face-and-body piercing. On the last day, there will be a “Koi Han” ceremony to exorcise ill fortune and a farewell ceremony for the deities at night.